Wofford football program expects to sign a big class

Tuesday

Feb 5, 2013 at 10:17 PM

Changes to the coaching staff were just what the Wofford football program didn't seem to need so close to National Signing Day.

By TODD SHANESYtodd.shanesy@shj.com

It was just what the Wofford football program didn't seem to need so close to National Signing Day.Only about a month before recruits are to put their autographs on the dotted lines Wednesday, the Terriers officially announced that defensive coordinator Nate Woody was leaving for Appalachian State. Longtime assistant Jack Teachey, also recruiting coordinator, was to take over Woody's role and hand other responsibilities to running backs coach Aaron Johnson. With rumors and speculation swirling on the outside, Wofford recruits on the inside were told the straight-up facts.“We were just honest with them,” Teachey said. “We told them that, no matter what, we're not changing anything. I tried not to make more of it than it was. You don't want to appear panicked. Kids see that.“As coaches, we just kept doing what we do. It was fairly smooth. Obviously, we had already zeroed in on our guys and we let them know exactly what was happening. The guys on the staff just kept going. I can't say enough about the job they did in taking up the slack with us being a man down.”Wofford was also adding a member to the defensive staff. Former Terriers player Kevin Adleman, defensive coordinator at Brevard, was going through the process of becoming the linebackers coach. Head coach Mike Ayers was informative on players' official visits.“He told kids and their parents that changes were happening,” Johnson said. “He introduced Coach Teachey as the defensive coordinator. We told recruits that the new coordinator was somebody who has been here for 20 years. It wasn't some outside coach coming in here. At the time, we weren't allowed to officially announce Coach Adleman. But Coach Ayers said that the new coach played here and was part of the Wofford family. We assured the kids that the direction of the program and our values were not changing. Those things outweighed the negatives of Coach Woody leaving.”Wofford is expected to sign about 25. Those names will be released throughout the day. Coaches will discuss the new players during a Signing Day party from 5:30-7 p.m., although tickets for that event have already sold out at $10 each.“We're very excited,” Teachey said. “It's going to be a huge class, probably the biggest we've ever had. … Coaching changes didn't affect our class whatsoever.”“It's a great class,” Johnson said. “We feel that we've consistently gotten better classes in general to fit out goals. Guys who have in the past chosen other schools are choosing us. We're winning on kids who have chances to go to bigger schools.”Teachey said Woody did not try to take with him to Appalachian State players who had committed to the Terriers. One player, however, Dorman defensive back and Shrine Bowl selection Brandon Pinkney, whose parents went to Wofford, did commit to ASU after Woody left. “There was some overlap, but we're not recruiting all the same guys,” Teachey said. “Coach Woody handled that very professionally, as we expected. He still loves Wofford and we all still love him.”There shouldn't be any last-minute drama, Teachey said.“We don't get guys who bring five hats to a stage,” he said. “And I hope we never get in those situations. We're just waiting without fingers crossed that nothing happens in the final hours. But for us, we feel like the hay is in the barn.”